Treatment of Acute Kidney Injuries

Cooper RL, Labato MA: Peritoneal dialysis in cats with acute kidney injury: 22 cases (2001–2006), J Vet Intern Med 25:14, 2011.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) is a process used in managing acute kidney injury that is refractory to fluid therapy. PD utilizes the peritoneum as a semipermeable membrane in order to move solutes and water between blood in the peritoneal capillaries and fluid (dialysate) instilled in the peritoneal cavity. This study of the medical records of 22 cats with acute kidney injury examined the indications, effectiveness, outcomes, and complications associated with use of PD in the affected cats. Indications for peritoneal dialysis include acute-on-chronic- kidney injury, acute kidney injury caused by toxins, bilateral ureteroliths, bilateral ureteral ligation as a complication of ovariohysterectomy, and unknown causes. For all cats on PD, the median survival time was 4 days, though the median survival time for cats discharged from the hospital was 774 days. Dialysate retention and sequestration of dialysate under the skin were the most common complications noted. Results found a significant decrease between the pre-and post-dialysis results for blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, potassium, phosphorus, total protein, and albumin concentrations. PD could be used as an effective option for treatment in cats with acute kidney injury that is refractory to fluid therapy.  [VT]

Related articles:
Cooper RL, Labato MA: Peritoneal dialysis in veterinary medicine, Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 41:91, 2011.

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